A first of a kind trial in the fight against malaria

A first of a kind trial in the fight against malaria

Sponsor: Medicines for Malaria Venture

Therapy Area: Malaria

Phase: Phase 1 study

In 2021 there were an estimated 247 million malaria cases in 84 countries where the disease is endemic. Current antimalarial treatments are effective and well tolerated but growing resistance to these therapies is making them less effective for vulnerable populations.

Richmond Pharmacology has been the sole centre for a Phase 1 placebo-controlled study in adults of sub-Saharan ancestry to determine whether combining two current malaria treatments – pyronaridine and piperaquine – has potential for protecting people against severe malaria. Under the leadership of Chief Medical Director, Dr Ulrike Lorch, the Richmond team successfully recruited and enrolled 37 participants from this particular population group, all of whom completed the trial.

The study suggested that combing these treatments may have potential in the fight against malaria. A summary of the study was published on 9th April 2024 in Clinical and Translational Science

Ulrike Lorch said: “Richmond sits at the heart of London and we are fortunate to have a large and diverse community on our doorstep. Our ability to recruit quickly from the local area was essential to the success of this trial and we are grateful to all our volunteers. Together, we have taken the fight against malaria another step forward.”